Stage



Aug. 15, 1933. v P. CLARK STAGE Filed March 31, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N} x R N & RR N INVENTOR Peter Glam? 6 ATTORNEY P.CLARK Aug. 15, 1933.

STAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1932 INVENTOR .7 6 5'67 Clark MTTORNEY P. CLARK Aug. 15, 1933.

STAGE Filed March 31, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n Amwwsw IllllllII-Hlll m ill v INVENTOR Peter lai'h ATTBRNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stages, and more particularly to stages or the like for use in theatres.

Objects Among the principal objects which the invention has in view are:to provide a stagewhich Will have independently movable floor sections; to provide an elevating stage with a rotatable portion orturn-table; to enable the turn-table to function at any elevation of the stage; to enable the stage to be elevated in transverse sections; to enable portions of the turn-table to .be elevated with each section of the stage; to insure equalized operation of the sections; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description. 7

Drawings Figure 1 is a plan of the operating mechanism for a stage embodying invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view shown as taken on line2-2 of Figure 3; 1

Figure 3 is a plan of the stage; and

:Figure 4 is a sectional view shown as taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Description As seen in the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates the stage in general, the same being composed of a plurality of transverse sections which, for convenience, will be referred to as the front section 11, middle section 12 and rear section 13. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to any specific number of sections or specific arrangement thereof.

At the center of the stage is provided a turntable or rotating portion 14 which preferably includes portions of each of sections 11, 12 and 13. This turn-table may be rotated as an entity when the several sections are juxtaposed or level one'with the other. However, when desired to elevate said sections independently, the included parts of the turn-table may be elevated with the respective sections, and at this time the turn-table cannot be rotated.

The preferred mechanism employed to carry out the features of the invention preferably provides a plurality of hydraulic or other lifting mechanism, the present showing illustrating each section as having a pair of hydraulic lifts 15, onenear'each end thereof outside of the circumference of the turn-table 14. The admission and release of the hydraulicmedium to the several lifts may be controlled by service valves 1'7 and pipes 18 connecting the pairs of lifts for each section of the stage. By turningon the hydraulic medium of all of the lifts at once, the entire stage may be elevated as an entity. By turning on only one valve, for instance the one controlling the rear section 13, that section may be elevated above the rest as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. Either one of the other sections'may be elevated to a different level as indicated in dotted lines with respect to the front section 11. The several sections may consequently be controlled independently and brought to any desired levels to suit the needs of the production or the desires of the producer.

The portions of the several sections included in the turn-table 14 are constructed so as to be elevated and lowered with the respective sections. To accomplish this, the turn-table must first be rotated to its proper position, aligning the several portions with the non-rotating portions of said sections. The rotating and nonrotating portions of each section may be locked together in this aligned position by any suitable means such as the snap latches 19 indicated at appropriate points aroundthe periphery of the turn-table.

In the present disclosure, the operating medium, such as water, for the several lifts preferably is maintained under suitably high pressure in one or more high pressure tanks 20. A pipe 21 leads from the high pressure tank or tanks to each service valve 17. Another pipe 22 leads away from service valve 17 back to a low pressure tank 23. When the plungers or lifts are allowed to lower, the medium or water is permitted to return by the valves 1'7 into pipes 22 back to the low pressure tank 23. During this return flow of the water, service valve 17 functions to shut off ad,- mission of water under high pressure from pipes 21. The Water is returned to high pressure by means of pumps 24 suitably driven as by electric motors 25 which will force the .waterffrom the low'pressure tank 23 into the high pressure tanks 20 ready to be used again. Suitable emergency or hand shut-off valves 26 are provided in the several lines of piping from the tanks to the service valve.

In order to insure that the sections be elevated in equalized condition, so as to always remain rearward direction transverse to the several sec-' tions 11, 12 and 13, the several stub shafts at one end of the stage being in axial alignment and having releasable clutches 30 between the adjacent ends of the several stub shafts. Similarly at the other end of the stage, the several stub shafts are aligned and have clutches 30 between the meeting ends. -By virtue of the clutches, the several aligned stub shafts may be operated independently or in groups or all together, depending upon whether the clutches are all released, some or one released, or all in engagement respectively. r

Each stub shaft is preferably equipped with a bevel gear. 31. rotatable with thepinion and stub shaft. .A cross shaft 32 is provided in connection with each stage section and has a bevel gear 33 on each end thereof in mesh with the bevel gears 31 on the stub shafts for that sec: tion. Consequently, as the lifts l5 operate the section, the racks 2'7 rotate pinions 29 which in turn transmit rotary motion to bevel gear 31 which operates to rotate meshing bevel gears 33 and shaft 32. In event one of thelifts fails to function as effectively as the other lift, the interconnection throughshaft 26 obtains an equilization-and necessitates elevation of both ends an equal amount, thus maintaining the section level. By virtue of the possible clutch connection between the several stub shafts,-the entire stage. or such portions thereof as are to be simultaneously elevated, are likewise equalized andmaintained level.

In order to provide for the rotation of the turn-table 14, the several non-rotatable portions of the sections are appropriately cut away to provide a circularfopening for the turn-table. Around the periphery of this opening, the sections each provide rollers 34 which form a .complete support for the rotatable portions of the sections of the stage. The rotating portions of the sections lie within the circular opening, and

.in view of the rollers 34 may be rotated without lateral displacement so long as the several nonrotatable portions of the'stage sections remain juxtaposed in level condition.

.Rotation of the turn-table may be effected by means of a central gear 35 beneath the turntable and fast with respect thereto. This gear 35 is driven from any suitable source of power, such as a motor 36,- through any suitable train of gearing, here shown as a pinion 37 in mesh with said gear and on a shaft 38 carrying a worm-wheel 39 in mesh with worm 40 on the motor shaft.

From theabove description it will be observed that I provide for various combinations or arrangements of stage set-up, enabling the stage to be elevated in whole or in part, enabling the turn-table 14 tobe elevated with the entire stage and rotated at any elevation of the stage, and. lastly, enabling the portions of the turn-table to be individually elevated with non-rotatable portions of the stage.

I claim:

1. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, and other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity.

2. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having non-rotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, and other means connected to said lifting means whereby independent sections. of the stage may be elevated to different 7 levels.

3. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity, and means depending from adjacent ends of said nonrotatable portions adaptedto equalize each portion to maintain the same level during operation.

4. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections .having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity, and racks depending from adjacent ends of said nonrotatable portions adapted to equalize each portion to maintain the same level during'operation.

5. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, and other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity, a central gear secured to the underside of the portions comprisingthe turn-table, and means for driving said gear whereby the turn-table may be rotated.

6. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, and other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity, a central gear secured to the underside of the portions comprising the turn-table, a shaft connecting said central gear with a train of gears, and a motor for simultaneously operating said train of gear and the central gear whereby the turn- .table may be rotated.

'7. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and outside the circumference of the portions comprising the turn-table, and other means connected to said lifting means whereby all sections of the stage may be elevated as an entity, a central gear secured to the underside of the portions comprising the turn-table, and means for driving said gear whereby the turn-table may be rotated, and rollers secured to and beneath the outer periphery of said turn-table for supporting the turn-table when being rotated.

8. A stage as characterized comprising a plurality of sections, said sections having nonrotatable portions and having other portions which together provide a turn-table, lifting means on the underside of said sections and out- PETER CLARK. 

